MANILA, Philippines -- Bring food that will not spoil easily. Carry an umbrella not only for protection from the sun or a sudden downpour but also from the stray dogs that roam the cemetery.

These were among the tips given by the Department of Health (DOH) to the millions of Filipinos who would be trooping to cemeteries to mark All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the DOH National Epidemiology Center, said people should avoid taking their babies or children to the resting places of their loved ones as they would be vulnerable to diseases in hot and congested conditions.

"Bringing small children to memorial parks would also mean bringing in strollers, which could only add to the congestion in the cemetery," Tayag told reporters in a briefing on Friday.

He added that families should limit the duration of their visit to ease overcrowding, particularly in small cemeteries. "Please don't bring the whole kitchen with you as this would add to the congestion and slow down traffic flow inside the cemeteries," he said.

For elderly people with disabilities or a medical condition, Tayag offered this suggestion: Just light candles in churches instead of flocking to jam-packed cemeteries, which might worsen their condition.

But should they insist on going to cemeteries, they should at least have a companion to watch over them, he said.

Tayag warned the public against buying food from ambulant vendors as these may carry disease-causing organisms that could trigger diarrhea and food poisoning, among other illnesses.

Tayag said that if families wanted to eat in the cemetery, they should go for hot meals to minimize the risk of eating spoiled food. They must also bring their own drinking water, he added.

"It is also advisable to bring umbrellas [for protection from the sun and rain]. It is also a handy device to shoo away stray dogs in cemeteries," Tayag said.

The health official advised people against wearing slippers as rains could spawn floods or puddles which, according to Tayag, could contain the bacteria, which may cause leptospirosis, a life-threatening disease commonly transmitted in floodwaters tainted by the urine of infected animals like rats and dogs.

Leptospirosis is contracted by the entry of contaminated water through the mouth or cuts in the skin.

Tayag, meanwhile, announced that all state-run hospitals nationwide had been placed under "code white alert" starting on Monday until Wednesday in preparation for any medical emergencies.

Medical teams were also ready for dispatch, he added.

In a statement, Health Secretary Enrique Ona explained that a white alert signified the readiness of hospital manpower like general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses and ophthalmologists, among others, to respond to emergencies.

The Health Emergency Management Staff operations centers would also be on active surveillance on Monday and Tuesday to monitor any health or health-related emergencies nationwide, he added.

"The DOH is really hoping that the commemoration of All Saints and All Souls' Day will be peaceful, orderly and safe with the public following our tips and reminders," said Tayag.